The woody market currently seems to be very crowded with project boats that need finishing / saving, most have a price tag best describe by the somewhat famous line from the 1997 Australian movie The Castle – “Tell Him He’s Dreaming’. Well todays woody isn’t a dream, its good value at $500 ono.
Now there’s no motor but the tme story (thanks Ian McDonald) says there is one available for $3k but given its a Volvo 130hp to match the stern drive unit in the boat, you would probably be best to ditch both and start again 🙂
The launch is approx. 30’ and currently in the Taupo area and the trailer isn’t included in the price.
It stated that previously it was an icon of Lake Taupo so fingers crossed the Drake brothers can jump in with some more details.:-)
INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – This is REGARDETTE, formerly VENTURE, understood to be ex-Airforce. She has been at Taupo since the early 50’s I would say, or even earlier – possibly arriving soon after the finish of WW2. She had a Chrysler Crown which now lives in brother Michael’s shed. The Crown gearbox is now firmly bolted to the back of ROMANCE’s Chrysler Ace, where it is doing excellent service. Little else is known.
Its not often you see the words classic and quick in the same sentence when reading about one of our classic launch fleet – there are a few exceptions out there and probably the quickest is the 1919 Bailey & Lowe designed and built launch – Romance II.
Back in c2012 Romance II was rescued by Pauline Kidd and taken under Harold Kidd’s wing. I remember Colin Pawson who went with HDK on the post purchase delivery trip to Gulf Harbour, scoping out suitable locations on the eastern shore for a potential beaching, the water ingress was a tad worrying. HDK’s answer was to have the throttle wide open the whole way to keep the bow up 🙂 An old salt told me once that Romance II ran like a skinny hogged i.e. 18+ knots. Check out the video above.
Romance II sent a few years at Gulf Harbour before the decision was made to transport her to Marco Scuderi’s Helensville yard (MSN Shipwrights) for a major refit – photos of this work above.
HDK and family used the relaunched Romance II at many CYA launch gatherings before making the hard decision (HDK had waited 10+ years to acquire her) to find new owners that would use and enjoy her more. A partnership was formed and the future looked promising. Sadly life things like young children and work got in the way and now the Wooden Boat Bureau has been tasked with finding a new custodian for Romance II.
As she presents today the hard-to-do structural stuff is complete, leaving work that an average do-it-yourselfer could carry out e.g. clean her out, paint her up and you will have a very fine boat to enjoy. Because Romance II is plainly finished without brightwork (varnish), she’d be easier than most her size to maintain. Her owners have just completed a mechanical service (including diesel tank cleaning), 2x new start batteries, and re-bedded the tram top windows, so as stated her needs now are largely cosmetic.
Romance II’s zoom zoom is via a marinised Hino W-06e 162hp diesel engine, several years ago James Mobberley at Moon Engines fitted these engines to several woodys, including at the time his classic launch Falcon. Falcon and My Girl are probably the only two woody launches that would come close to pipping Romance II in a straight line.
So woodys this is a special opportunity to acquire one of the fleets icon classic lunches for entry level dollars – $35k will buy her – interested? Initially email waitematawoodys@gmail.com.
Todays gallery of woody craft comes to us from Jason Prew’s iPhone as he continues his 4×4 adventure. The venue is the Te Anau marina, on the shores of Lake TeAnau at the almost bottom of the South Island. Te Anau is the gateway to the Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound.
Spotted a couple of the L33 f/glass replicas , there always seems to be one where ever you look – nice craft, years ahead of the market.
At first glance you would have to assume the local chandlery doesn’t sell a lot of varnish 🙂
Can’t be too pleasant for the Chad Thompson organised NZ Classic Yacht Association classics taking part in the 3 day Spring Rally around the outer Gulf this weekend – thanks to Simon Cooper for sending in the photo below of the entire fleet just after the start off North Head on Friday morning.
SPRAT – Spirit Of Tradition + Orakei Hardstand Good News
During one of my recent visits to The Slipway Milford I was intrigued to see a recent addition to the work schedule – the sprit of tradition 28′ launch – Sprat, designed by David Badham and built in 2008 bt Peter McLea in Kerikeri, Northland. Sprit’shull is double diagonal kaikatia with a thick coat of ‘paint’ (aka f/glass). The cabin structure is foam core composite with glass.
Sprat is in for a re-power and and tart up (my words for a varnish job) – I understand that in her next life she will be a fast commuter / day boat for a Hauraki Gulf island residence.
It would be nice to see more craft like Sprat being built, modern with a slant to the past. The Salthouse yard were there with their Nick Peal designed 33′ weekenders – link below
VERY GOOD NEWS – refer below – ex summary > the hardstand was thrown a lifeline. Here’s what was passed at the Orakei Local Board meeting
a) approve The Landing concept plan refresh as presented in Attachment A subject to two amendments to the plan that would reduce the planned passive green space area as described in d)i. and d)ii. below and outlined in Attachment E:
i) subject to commercial viability, retain approximately 50 per cent of the 2022 managed hardstand area (about 2,750 square metres, including the washdown pad and associated existing filtration system) to establish a smaller, flexible-use site for a short-stay haul-out facility (based on the presentation in Attachment E from the Young 88 Owners’ Association) to be used from May to December each year and the site being cleared and available for activations and major events from January to April, contingent on the approved operator providing the necessary infrastructure and a commensurate commercial return to the Ōrākei Local Board and operating to the highest industry standards in respect of water and air quality management
ii) if feasible, retain and utilise the existing filtration infrastructure and associated washdown pad to enable a cost-recovery wash-down facility for small recreational boat/water-craft users as they exit the boat ramp and sea-access ramp areas
iii) further to d)i request staff to undertake an expression of interest and other enabling processes to facilitate the establishment of a smaller flexible-use site for a short-stay haul-out facility as soon as possible with a view to commercial arrangements being in place from 1 July 2024, and to keep the local board informed of progress
b) request staff to report back before 30 June 2024 outlining an updated amended final plan incorporating d)ii., and, if commercially feasible, with a return to the Ōrākei Local Board incorporating d)i. to enable the local board’s decision making on the final plan configuration
Todays woody is a wee bit of a mystery, while the Nautilus name has graced numerous classic launch sterns, this one appears to have disappeared off the radar.
In the photo above we see the 34’ Nautilus being transported on a lorry from Auckland to Onehunga for loading onto the coastal vessel Ronaki. The destination was Raglan, where her new owner lived. The photo is dated 24 July 1933.
So woodys can we learn more – designer / builder and what became of this Nautilus.
(Photo ex NZ Herald 25/07/1933 and comes to WW via K Ricketts, ex fb)
When Comes To Docking – There Is Always Someone Worse Than You
Photo below ex Bayswater Marina, Auckland………… remember woodys, it always pays to give way to plastic boat owners.
Earlier in the week I was out east and called into Leader Boats on the Panmure River. Dave Patterson and his team are currently breathing newline into a launch named – Fantasia, previously she was ‘berthed’ near-by.
Fantasia started life as a Crestacraft design and was built by Harry Biddle in a shed in Saleyard Rd, Otahuhu c.1968.
She has had several face lifts over the years and at time been a little un-loved. Now is getting what I’d describe as a sport fisher look, check out the new sheer line – close your eyes and think Oliver & Gilpin. The boat was re-engined in 1978, with what I’m not sure – much to K Ricketts disgust, I’m never that interested in the engines.
Her owner commented to me that he only came in for a new duckboard and paint job 🙂 I said to Dave that he could always get a job at McDonalds i.e. he’s the champion of companion selling – “do you want fries with that” 🙂
Still very much a work in process but you can see from the photos what she will look like.
HAROLD KIDD INPUT – According to the contemporary APYMBA records FANTASIA was built in 1963 By B. Everett of 51 Kiwi Esplanade Mangere. No mention of a designer. Make of that what you will. Did Everett simply pay for her to be built? That’s not the normal way APYMBA recorded information. Did he finish off a hull perhaps?
Todays woody has one of the best back stories we have had on WW – the giff-rigged auxiliary yawl yacht – Caplin was built in Penarth, Wales (UK)I in 1937-38 at the Anderson & Sons shipyard for Commander Robert D. Graham (R.N. ret.).
Graham set off in late 1938 on a circumnavigation of the world, whilst cruising the Pacific he was alerted to the out break of WWII, he headed to New Zealand first stopping in Nelson then Wellington. In Wellington he placed Caplin on the market and returned to the UK to reenlist.
Caplin was purchased by an Oamaru family* who kept her in Oamaru Harbour for nearly 60 years.She then moved to Queen Charlotte Sound , then Akaroa, where her current owners bought her in 2015 and moved her to Golden Bay. Culpan now calls Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour home. Her current owner is the granddaughter of the GT Gillies* (George Thomas Gillies), who purchased Caplin from Cr Graham in Wellington in April 1940.
Caplin is built in pitch-pine planks over oak frames with mahogany and teak trim – specs > 35’ length overall, 9’6” beam and draws 5’4”. Power is via a Yammer 3GM30F diesel.
While her owners have invested significant time and funds to ensure that Caplin retains her original aura, character and pedigree, they have also carefully integrated modern systems and technology to provide peace of mind and comfort – for example – new galley, new toilet , completely rewired + panels and fittings, new bronze winch, diesel heater to name just a few.
Her light and airy saloon makes for a spacious and comfortable vessel both on route, at anchor or in the marina. Caplin attracts admirers anywhere.
12-11-2024 UPDATE – Below decks has been feeling the love, new owner Geoff Fiebig is a man of style and good taste.
Todays woody is a wee bit of a mystery and comes to us from the William Tension collection > Auckland Library Heritage Collection > Lew Redwood fb.The photo is captained ‘motorboat and rowing dinghy moored in a creek. The motorboat is flying a pennant with the name Orlando’ The date listed.states 1920>1929. Harold Kidd has commented that there was an Orlando in Dunedin c.1912/13 Are we able to learn more about Orlando and what became of her.
ORAKEI HARDSTAND UPDATE
I received advice yesterday on feedback from the recent ‘public’ consultation process that the Orakei Local Board called for. These findings will be discussed / reviewed at the boards next meeting – this Thursday -16th Nov. address details below. The topic is #1 on the agenda and its a public meeting, so I encourage all interested people to attend – being the first item, you can depart after topic #1, I could not think of anything more boring than listening Scott Milne and his cronies for too long.
Interesting that Auckland Council’s marine biosecurity staff have recommended that the local board consider maintaining a limited area of facilities at the Landing for short stay cleaning and antifoul application. Staff from the Parks and Community Facilities Department also note the biosecurity benefits of a hardstand.
Clear public support for a hardstand at The Landing
Results of the Ōrākei Local Board public consultation on retention of the hardstand at Okahu Bay shows a clear majority (64%) support retention of a short stay haul out and hardstand facility for boat cleaning and/or anti-foul application.
So woodys will The Ōrākei Local Board give due regard to the public input they sought? Will they protect the Hardstand’s designation in the Marine Precinct specified in Auckland’s Unitary Plan?
The Orakei Local Board needs to receive the feedback generated by their public consultation on The Landing and revise their draft refresh plan to incorporate a hardstand facility.
MEETING LOCATION: St Chads Church and community centre, 38 St Johns Rd Remuera, 3pm Thursday 16th Nov. 2023
Todays woody is rather a large craft , built in 2005 for coastal and off-shore cruising – the log book includes Alaska, Marianas and Port Ross (NZ Sub-Antartic). Built via cold moulded timber and f/glassed and kitted out with all the gear for extended cruising.
Power is from a 240hp Volvo Penta 70 series diesel that sips 8L an hour, combine that with a 5,000L fuel take thats an impressive range.
Unfortunately we do not have a name – her tme (thanks Ian McDonald) didn’t mention that 😦 Its named Maia and she was built in Tauranga by Aquatic Solutions
Todays photo gallery (bomb) is less than 24 hrs old, as mentioned earlier in the week Jason Prew is criss crossing the South Island scouting off-road tracks to justify to himself the cost of owning a Remuera Tractor 🙂
Yesterday Jason sent in the above gallery and tells me it was just a fluke he was in Akaroa on the right day – yeah right 😉
Enjoy the photos, as always click on photos to enlarge.
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 15+ million views 